Annapurna Base Camp

Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is located in the Himalayas with a population of approximately 27 million. Bordered to the north by the China, and to the south, east, and west by India and across the Himalayas lies the Tibet.

A monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms. However, a decade-long Civil War by the Communist Party of Nepal and several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties led to elections for a constituent assembly in May 2008 which overwhelmingly favoured the abdication of the Nepali monarch Gyanendra Shah and the establishment of a federal multiparty representative democratic republic.

Kathmandu is the nation’s capital and the country’s largest city. Kathmandu Valley itself has an estimated population of 5 million.

Nepal has a rich geography: the mountainous north has eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha in Nepali. It contains more than 240 peaks over 6,096 m above sea level. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanised.

The Sherpa people are the predominant ethnic group living in the eastern Himalayan region of Nepal. In 2001 there were approximately 150,000 sherpas in Nepal. Their language is a variant of Tibetan. Sherpas belong to the Nyingmapa, the “Red Hat Sect” of Tibetan Buddhism. Allegedly the oldest Buddhist sect in Tibet, it emphasizes mysticism and local deities shared by the pre-Buddhist Bon religion, which has shamanic elements, in addition to Buddha and the great Buddhist divinities, the Sherpa also have believe in numerous gods and demons who are believed to inhabit every mountain, cave, and forest. These have to be worshiped or appeased through ancient practices that have been woven into the fabric of Buddhist ritual life. Indeed, it is almost impossible to distinguish between Bon practices and Buddhism.

Sherpas are highly regarded as elite mountaineers. They were immeasurably valuable to early explorers of the Himalayas, serving as guides at the extreme altitudes of the peaks and passes in the region, particularly for expeditions to climb Mt. Everest. Today, Sherpa is a term often used casually to refer to almost any guide or porter hired for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas. Sherpas are renowned in the international climbing and mountaineering community for their hardiness, expertise, and experience at high altitudes. It has been speculated that a portion of the Sherpas’ climbing ability is the result of a genetic adaptation to living in high altitudes.

Daytime temperatures in Kathmandu will be warm and can reach as high as over 30°C. On trek the daytime temperatures can warm to over 20°C when the sun is out. At higher elevations, if there is little sun or during evening, temperatures plunge well below freezing.

Nepalese Rupee – this can only be obtained in Nepal. Currency equivalent to approximately £300 should be sufficient for the duration of your stay in Nepal. This will include enough to cover tips for the whole tripand should be brought in US Dollars or a mixture of USD and Pound Sterling.

Although not obligatory tipping has become ingrained in the culture, and once you see how hard the Sherpa work for you for such a small amount of money relative to your own UK salaries, these will be much appreciated. As a guide we recommend tipping around $160 for the local staff and whatever you feel for the 360 Leader. A good leader can have a huge impact on the success and enjoyment of an expedition.

GMT + 5 hours 45 mins

We stay in lodges known locally as tea houses and these have basic kitchens. Apart from generators there is no electricity in the Annapurna region and the food is usually cooked on big stoves and ovens fuelled by wood or yak dung. Despite this the range of food produced is fantastic and the menus are very comprehensive. The majority of the meals focus on fuelling the hungry trekker by providing plenty of carbohydrates. Pastas, rice based dishes, spring rolls and pizzas are the staples.

Every single ingredient is brought up either on a yak or by a porter and as such the menus get a little simpler as you get to the higher lodges. Most of our midday meals are also eaten at trailside restaurants and are usually accompanied by a hot drink or two. On top of well-balanced meals You are provided with coffee, tea and snacks upon arrival into the lodge and at all mealtimes.

You are invited to bring along any of their favourite snacks and goodie bags from home as buying additional snacks from the lodges can be expensive. Concentrate on high energy food-stuffs such as Jelly Babies to give you that little boost on an arduous day.

Absolutely, please inform the office of any allergies or intolerances and we will ensure that these are taken into account on the trek.

For the first days bottled drinking water will be used. At the higher lodges we will use locally sourced drinking water from streams or springs. These are usually fresh being topped up from melt water above or by rainfall but we also increase its purity by treating the water with purification tablets and by boiling it. We always ensure that our drinking water is 100% bug free.

Before leaving the lodge in the morning you will fill your water bottles or camel bladder. If this runs low you will have ample more water to replace it with. For most walking days water can be replenished at the lunch time site.

The teahouses vary in their quality and style depending on their location. Generally they have a communal room downstairs, with one or two bed bedrooms above them. Some have shower facilities, some will just have a stand pipe, and there are shared toilet facilities. They use a type of wood burning stove in the main communal area. Other rooms are generally unheated.

There are no facilities for changing money in the teahouses. We recommend that you organise sufficient cash Kathmandu, your local guide can advise on this.

There is electricity in many of the teahouses at lower altitudes, but not when you get higher and the teahouses become more basic. A top tip for making your batteries last a little longer is to put them in the inside pocket of your coat or under your pillow at night. Cooler temperatures drain battery life so keeping them warm will ensure they last longer!

Most altitude related symptoms manifest themselves at night. We therefore recommend room sharing from the onset of all expeditions. Room share is organised according to sex and where possible age groups. Obviously if you are climbing this mountain with a friend or partner then share rooms with them. If you have joined the team by yourself then it is highly likely that you will be sharing a room with your pre-assigned room buddy unless prior arrangements have been made.

All our guides are in communication with each other by phone and radio. In the vast majority of cases of emergency rescue the problems can be attributed to altitude and so the solution is immediate descent to lower altitudes. Our local mountain crew are all experienced in dealing with any problem that will arise. Our guides are either doctors or qualified with the highest standard of wilderness first aid qualifications and can handle an emergency to the highest level of competency, in the vast majority of cases without national park assistance.

There are different types of altitude sickness. Although our acclimatisation regime ensures that everybody enjoys the best possible chance of getting high on the mountain, altitude related problems can happen. The most common of this is high altitude sickness (AMS – Acute Mountain Sickness).
Symptoms for this can include headaches, nausea and vomiting.

This sounds quite dramatic but generally this is just the process your body naturally goes through to adjust to the higher altitudes and the reduced partial pressure of the atmosphere. For some people the acclimatisation process takes a little longer than others. For our guides this is all part and parcel of ascending to 4,000m and, although we assess each client’s personal situation carefully, we also further consider the compounding effects of dehydration brought on by excessive vomiting and loss of appetite.

AMS might sound frightening but our guides are fully trained (and highly experienced) in helping relieve your personal symptoms and providing advice on how to best proceed.

In most cases AMS can be avoided by the following: drink plenty of water, walk slowly, stay warm and eat well – and listen and talk to your guides.
We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the various effects that altitude can cause. During your pre-climb briefing, we will describe altitude sickness to you in detail, and advise you how to cope with it.

The most important thing is not to fear it, but to respect it and to know how to deal with it and more importantly tell your guides how you feel. Our guides have seen every condition that the mountain produces, and they will always know how to deal with problems.

HACE and HAPE rarely occur on the Annapurna Base Camp trek but our guides are fully trained in the recognition of the onset of these problems and will deal with them at the first sign of their development.

We recommend you come armed with a course of Diamox on this expedition, though we do not recommend that take you these as a prophylactic during the trek or climb. We view Diamox as a treatment drug rather than a preventative medicine.  Most adventure medics give similar advice, however we do appreciate this can be confusing, as many GPs (who aren’t necessarily mountaineers) do suggest taking it as a prophylactic.

Here at 360 we pride ourselves on designing all our itineraries with acclimatisation front and centre and this expedition has been carefully designed to allow for your body to adjust to the altitude gradually, safely and comfortably. However, if you find that you are still having problems adjusting to the altitude (see our FAQ on Altitude Sickness) then your expedition leader or medic will recommend the correct course of action regarding taking Diamox.

It is far preferable to take Diamox if and when needed during the course of the expedition. If you are already taking it and then start having altitude related problems you are left with few options but to descend to a more comfortable altitude which sadly often means that the summit is not attainable.

Furthermore, Diamox is a diuretic, meaning you will have to drink a lot of fluid to prevent dehydration. Of course, the upshot of this is you’ll have to pee more which means you’ll probably be having to get up more in the night and take cover behind rocks during the day. Another quite common side-effect is that it can cause your extremities to “buzz and tingle” including your fingers, toes and lips which can feel quite unsettling.  Other side-effects can include dizziness and light headedness with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Although all these side-effects are manageable when you have symptoms of altitude sickness, we personally believe it is counter-intuitive to take it unless necessary.

Of course, it is totally up to you, this is just our recommendation and we’re not doctors. If you do decide to take Diamox on the advice of your doctor then please do let your leader know in situ so they are aware of this. We also suggest you take the drug for a couple of days a few weeks before travelling so you can experience the symptoms before taking them during the trek.

The Malaria protozoa generally does not survive over an altitude of 1,500m so Malaria should pose no threat. We recommend that you visit your doctor or travel clinic before departure to get the latest advice.

We advocate a little bit of self-help on the mountain. If you have a blister developing for example then please stop take of your boot and treat it before it becomes a problem.

Your own first aid kit should contain:

A basic blister kit, antiseptic, plasters, sun-protection, your own personal medication (sometimes your porter might get to camp after you and if he is carrying your medication you may not be able to take it according to the regime you are used to), basic pain relief (aspirin and Ibuprofen), a personal course of antibiotics if prone to illness. Foot powder in your socks every morning is great for preventing blisters.

Generally the best approach to take when packing your first aid kit is to include such basic medications as if you would on a family or personal holiday.

Your 360 expedition leader and / or a local porter (we call the ambulance man!) carries a very comprehensive first aid kit which contains a wide range of supplies and medications. They are fully trained to use whatever is needed for any emergency that may arise. We advocate keeping this in mind when packing your own first aid supplies and keeping your own First Aid kit as compact and light as possible.

The following vaccinations are recommended:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Polio

This list is not absolute and it is important you should see your GP Surgery or travel clinic for latest recommendations and to ensure you are up to date on necessary vaccinations.

We advocate the beg, steal, borrow or hire principle for first timers instead of buying brand new stuff you’ll never use again. The cost of equipment is usually a major deterrent for people coming onto trips in the first place. However, if you think you’ll reuse your gear, then it’s worth starting to invest in good gear. The old adage often applies – you get what you pay for.

Our guides usually start the walk wearing long, lightweight trekking trousers and T-shirts. Long trousers are recommended as a deterrent to insects, stinging plants and to act as sun protection.

Shorts can also be worn on the initial few days of the trek as the temperature is usually warm. Ensure that you apply sun-protection frequently, or buy a once a day product such as P20 if you’re not very good at remembering to apply it.

The prevailing conditions on the mountain will dictate what you will wear: if it is cold when you leave the camp in the morning then wear your fleece. As things warm up take advantage of the zipper system which most trekking clothing has – open and close the zips to adjust to your own preferred temperature. If you get too warm then take a layer off.

As we gain altitude it gets cold and daytime temperatures of -10 to -15 C are not unusual.  Closer to Base Camp our guides wear 2 sets of base layers (Long Johns), a fleece layer (top and bottom) and then on the legs waterproofs whilst on the upper torso a down jacket is worn.

If the wind picks up our guides will put on their windproof layer to ward of the windchill. On their hands they’ll wear a thin layer of working gloves over the top of which is a thicker set of ski gloves or mittens.

Their heads are covered by a thermal beanie hat and the hood of their down jackets. On their feet the guides wear one pair of thin socks and one pair of thick.

Waterproof are needed on hand at all times. It is not unusual to be caught out in an afternoon rain or snow storm. Waterproofs should be Gortex material or similar. Waterproofs are used as an invaluable wind shield to protect you against the effect of wind-chill when a strong wind blows.

Because of the huge variety of terrain encountered when doing this trek it is very important to wear the right footwear. Boots should be sturdy, waterproof, insulated against cold temperatures and offer adequate ankle support.

In addition it is highly recommended that your boots are well worn in to prevent the formation of blisters. A range of suitable boots are on the market and further advice as to which brand names are available can be found online or at your local gear store. It is not necessary to buy technical boots with crampon clips as crampons are not used at any time.

There is no electricity much above Pokhara and lodges are heated by a pot-bellied stove fuelled with either wood or yak dung. These provide adequate warmth for the dining rooms but are not connected to the bedrooms. A thick fleece or light down jacket provides adequate warmth for inside the buildings.

For footwear we suggest using either trainers or crocs. It is nice to get out of your trekking boots and to have something light to wear for the evenings.

Kathmandu has hundreds of gear stores selling stuff at very cheap prices. The majority of them sell imitation clothes and equipment but 360 Expeditions guides will be on hand to show you the shops selling the good quality stuff.

A daysack is worn at all times during the trek. The content of this is mandatory and should include: a fleece (for when taking breaks or the weather changes), a full set (top and bottom) of waterproofs, sufficient water for the day, snacks, camera equipment, personal medication and a head torch.

Your day to day sack (above) should weigh no more then 3 – 4 kg and a sack of around 40L capacity will more than suffice. This rucksack can be filled to the brim with extra stuff when checking in at the airport. It is important that this bag has an adjustable waist belt to transfer the weight of your daily load onto your hips and from here onto your legs (strongest muscles) to do most of the carrying.

Your porter bags should be of a soft material duffel bag or rucksack variety and should not be a suitcase or hard bodied metal case. Furthermore they should weigh no more then 12-14 kg when packed for the trek. Since we are staying in lodges we will not need to bring any special camping equipment. A change of clothes, some warm clothing for when we get to the higher altitudes, sleeping bag and your toiletries should form the basis of your porter load.

In addition a pair of trainers to be worn in the lodges and some luxuries such as a book or playing cards etc will be more than sufficient.

They are highly recommended and are worth their weight in gold at altitude. Our guides wear them every evening at higher altitudes.

A layer system comprising of several layer of base layers, fleeces, jumpers and a thick coat will suffice on but nothing beats the efficiency of a good down jacket (especially when topped with a waterproof layer).

They should be rated within the -15C comfort zone. From the first night upwards it is not unusual to experience frosty nights and a good night‘s sleep is important to give you the best chance to complete this trek. Ensure you get a sleeping bag that has this temperature rating at this comfort zone rather than its extreme zone.

Our guides take sleeping bags rated to well below -10C to ensure that they are warm at night. 3 season sleeping bags can be enhanced by using on inner silk sheet (or similar). The idea is to be as comfortable and warm as possible for the night and henceforth to ensure plenty of sleep for the arduous days ahead.

It is important to remember that down sleeping bags work by your own body heating the down that’s inside the bag. Once you have warmed up the bag the down will retain the heat and ensure that you sleep at body temperature.

For best results it is best to wear as little as possible when inside your sleeping bag. Our guides will often only wear a set of thermals in their bag. It is important for the bag to trap the heat. By wearing multiple layers of clothing your clothing will trap this heat and your bag will not function properly.

Kathmandu is at a relatively low altitude and daytime temperatures are warm. When in Rome do as the Romans. Shorts and T-shirts are fine to wear during the course of the day. Evening wear generally tends to be casual with long trousers and casual shirt appropriate for all hotels and restaurants.

Nepalese are generally quite conservative in their dress code and are generally well dressed despite their situation in life. Your town and party clothes can be left in a safe lock up at the hotel and do not need to be taken up the mountain.

It is possible to rent a wealth of clothing and kit from our hire partners at www.outdoorhire.co.uk or our local ground crew but we do advocate the use of personal equipment for footwear.

The optimal climbing seasons are late March through to early June when the daytime temperatures are the warmest and there is a reduced cloud cover. Late September through to December is also good as the daytime conditions are generally cooler but still clear.

The temperature can vary widely. Sometimes it is only a degree or two below freezing, but trekkers should be prepared for possible temperatures as low as minus 15 Celsius, especially in conjunction with wind chill.

360 Expeditions will be booking flights on your behalf. We provide confirmation of flight times and departure terminal approximately three weeks before your departure date. Be aware that flight schedules are subject to change and ensure that you have checked your flight details before setting out for your flight.

You must carry individual travel insurance to take part in the expedition. We cannot take you on the mountain without proof of insurance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate insurance for your intended trip. To include medical evacuation and coverage up to the maximum altitude of this trip.

Your insurance details are requested on the booking form, however this can be arranged at a later date. 360 Expeditions will be requesting your insurance details 8 weeks before your departure.

Your passport should be valid for 6 months after the date the trek starts. If it runs out before you may be refused entry. It is also advisable to have a couple of photocopies of your passport in case of loss.

Visas are compulsory for entry into Nepal for all foreign nationals. You can either apply for your visa on arrival in Nepal, or in the UK before you travel.

If you decide to apply before you go, you may be selected to attend the Nepalese Embassy to collect your visa. If this is the case, you’ll be given a set day and time when you have to do this. If this happens and you can’t make it to the embassy, there are a couple of options:
1. you can nominate someone to go on your behalf.
2. you can ignore the request to go to the embassy and sort your visa on arrival. There will be no issues getting your visa on arrival even if you’ve already started the process in the UK.

It is very easy to get your visa on arrival in Kathmandu and there are now electronic visa booths at the airport which take your photo, allow you to fill in all the relevant information and spit you out the completed visa application. You then just queue to pay your fee!

A 15 day visa costs US$30 and a 30 day visa costs US$50.

360 Expeditions will be on hand to talk through a fitness plan that will suit you and your lifestyle as being trekking fit before coming to the mountain is of great importance not only to maximise your chances of reaching Base Camp but much more importantly to enhance your overall enjoyment of the expedition: if you are struggling from day one then you will not enjoy the rest of the trip.

Physical preparation does not have to be Herculean: concentrate on cardio-vascular exercise during the week by taking short runs when time allows and try to spend at least 2 weekends a month going on long duration walks (longer than 6 hrs) carrying a rucksack of around 10kg.

This kind of regime will not only prepare your body to carry minor loads but will harden your body against the big days on the mountain itself. In addition it will help break in your boots and get used to your equipment. In combination this will pay dividends because even though you can’t train for altitude your body will be ready for arduous days and you will be familiar with how to best use your equipment, both adding to you being able to enjoy and appreciate the mountain all the more.

Please also see the recommended training program for the Annapurna Base Camp trek.

It is the Nepalese Rupee. This can only be obtained in Nepal. Currency equivalent to approximately £300 should be sufficient for the duration of your stay in Nepal. This will include enough to cover tips for the whole tripand should be brought in US Dollars or a mixture of USD and Pound Sterling.

Although not obligatory tipping has become ingrained in the culture, and once you see how hard the Sherpa work for you for such a small amount of money relative to your own UK salaries, these will be much appreciated.

As a guide we recommend tipping around $160 for the local staff and whatever you feel for the 360 Leader. A good leader can have a huge impact on the success and enjoyment of an expedition.

The voltage is 220v / 50Hz like the UK. Rectangular or round three-pin plugs are used. It is possible to recharge your electronic items and batteries for a small cost at some lodges.

You have some time in Kathmandu before the trek begins which will give you plenty of time to pick up souvenirs. You will be able to leave any purchases safely stored at the hotel in Kathmandu.